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INDIANOLA, Ia. – Mike Huckabee spent several minutes Saturday emphasizing to about 60 Warren County Republicans his success against Bill and Hillary Clinton and their political allies in Arkansas.

"The reason I believe this is the right time to ask you to vote for me is because I've fought the Clinton political machine every election I was in," the former Arkansas governor told the group gathered at First Assembly of God in Indianola.

Republicans are searching for someone who can beat Hillary Clinton, the presumed Democratic presidential candidate in the 2016 election, Huckabee said.

"Send me," he said. "I've done it before and lived to tell about it."

Huckabee also said he has a proven track record of gaining the votes of minorities. When he was elected governor of Arkansas, he got 49 percent of the African-American vote, he said.

"It's nonsense (for Republicans) to think we can't get the minority vote," said Huckabee, 59. "I've proven them to be wrong."

Republicans lose elections because speeches "are tailored to the corporate boardroom rather than the factory floor," he said.

Huckabee talked about a range of topics in Indianola, from the economy and immigration to his support of the Fair Tax and his experience governing in Arkansas.

He got enthusiastic applause when he told the group he opposes abortion ("I believe every single human life has dignity") and that the U.S. Department of Education should be abolished ("The federal government has no role in public education.")

He also told the group the U.S. should secure its borders to keep people from crossing into the country illegally. Once a wall or fence is built, decisions can be made on what to do about people already in the country illegally, he said.

Huckabee and his wife, Janet, were headed to Arkansas after the Indianola event. The couple's daughter, Sarah, was expected to give birth to her third child over the weekend. Before they left, the Rev. Barry Hill and those who attended the meet-and-greet said a prayer over the Huckabees, asking God for the infant's safe delivery and for safe travels for the couple.